Pandora's Box

Midlake Crisis

Midlake Crisis

Site Supporter
Location
Bakersfield, CA
The last couple of rides my starter was starting to squeal, yesterday I went out to test it for today's ride and it wouldn't start at all. I pulled the flywheel and bendix, the flywheel had some worn teeth (on the right in pic)
PICT2482-1.jpg


Wasn't sure of the cause, (weak starter, bad bendix. . .??) and thought about robbing the starter and bendix off my daughter's WRIII just to get on the water Sunday. Some indecision b/c the bendix seems in really good shape, the starter is one of the cheapo DB electricals that is about a year old, anyway I decided to wait and figure it out and do it right instead of rushing it back together.
This afternoon I pulled the motor and had another unhappy surprise:
PICT2480-1.jpg

That is a bedplate bolt that worked its way completely out and was working on wearing a hole completely through the bottom of the bilge!!. One more ride and I seriously bet it would have broken through.
Another of the bolts wasn't even hand tight, and a third was semi-seized tight but not snugged up to the plate. Apparently I failed to torque them properly or something. . . . . .
PICT2483.jpg


Pretty bummed out - missing riding today was bad enough, I have no time this week for collecting parts and working on the ski, and will prolly not be riding again until after Thanksgiving.
I'm thinking with the ski all torn down it may be time to do some upgrades I have been thinking about, like swapping the 62T cylinder for 61x, maybe lightened flywheel etc.
I sure like riding better than wrenching though. Maybe I need a backup ski!!
 
Waternut

Waternut

Customizing addict
Location
Macon, GA
Is the only thing wrong with that flyhweel the lightly worn teeth? If so, that's thing is in pristine condition IMO. I've rattled some properly torqued case bolts out as well but never had one chew into the hull. Make sure the engine is aligned properly when reinstalling.

Get another starter, fix the hull, and slap it all back together.
 
Matt_E

Matt_E

steals hub caps from cars
Site Supporter
Location
at peace
Is the only thing wrong with that flyhweel the lightly worn teeth?
Click to expand...

Those are more than just slightly worn - I wouldn't call that pristine.
61X flywheels are cheap, I wouldn't run that one anymore.
 
grahammy

grahammy

Location
Northampton, U.K.
Starters don't normally squeal, squealling would be more down to the bendix. When you spin the gear on the bendix back and forth in your hand, does it lock one way each time? every single time?
Squealing would be when the clutch inside the bendix slips.







_________________________________________________________
Supporting the UK Freestyle National Tour and IFWA worldwide Tour
Supported by http://www.rollcontainers.co.uk/mobile_ladders.htm
 
Midlake Crisis

Midlake Crisis

Site Supporter
Location
Bakersfield, CA
Wish

oxnard111 said:
I think this one is still for sale.

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/63652&highlight=cylinder
Click to expand...
yeah, that is a sweet setup, just a little outside my price range. I wonder if it would perform with my stock/milled head.

Grahammy, the bendix seems great, I am thinking the squealing was from the bendix grinding on the face of the flywheel teeth. Still not positive.
When I pulled the starter the shaft was sloppy / almost 1/4" play from end-to-end, and sounded rough when spun backwards, smooth when forwards. I'm assuming this is not good, but need to find out the right way to test it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom